Police and fire briefs for August 10, 2011

Police seek gunman who killed BR man

Police are investigating the Tuesday shooting death of a man found lying in the driveway of a Conrad Drive residence, police spokesman Sgt. Donald Stone said.

Police were called to the 3500 block of Conrad at about 6:15 a.m., when they found the body of 27-year-old Stephen Joseph Thomas, 3644 Webb Drive, Stone said.

No arrests have been made and no suspects have been named in the shooting, Stone said. A motive also is not yet known.

Anyone with information about this incident can contact police at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344- STOP or (225) 344-7867.

BR woman, 36, dies in two-vehicle wreck

A 36-year-old Baton Rouge woman was killed Tuesday in a two-vehicle crash on Florida Boulevard near Sharp Lane, police said in a news release.

Tanisha Allison was driving her car west in the 10200 block of Florida Boulevard at about 7:30 a.m. when her car was struck head on by another car, Sgt. Donald Stone said in the release.

Carlos Rodriguez, 20, of Mission, Texas, was driving the other car, Stone said.

According to a witness and physical evidence at the scene of the crash, Rodriguez’s car hit the inside guardrail, causing him to lose control of the car and cross over the center median, hitting Allison’s car head on, Stone said.

Rodriguez was not wearing a seat belt and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, Stone said.

Allison was wearing a seat belt. She was taken to a hospital where she later died.

Investigators are trying to determine what caused Rodriguez to hit the guardrail and lose control of his car, Stone said.

Accidental ignition blamed in house fire

An outdoor cooking top caused an accidental fire at a house Monday night at 1840 Heather Drive, according to a Fire Department news release.

Fire investigators believe that an outdoor cooking top in a storage area was accidentally turned on when the owner went into the storage area to get something, the release says.

When firefighters arrived at 6:16 p.m., the outdoor storage and cooking area was on fire, the release says.

The home did receive some water and smoke damage, but the flames were kept away from the living area of the home, the release says.

The outdoor area was destroyed by the blaze, the release says.

Police seek bandit who robbed store

Police detectives are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Saturday at the Circle K store, 12891 Coursey Blvd., according to a Police Department news release.

The preliminary investigation found that a man entered the store, took out a firearm and demanded cash, the release says.

The robber was given an undisclosed amount of cash before he left the store on foot, the release says.

The robber is described as a light-brown-skinned black man, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and medium build.

He was last seen wearing black jeans, a black long-sleeve shirt, a black ball cap and black tennis shoes.

Anyone with information, is urged to call police at (225) 389-3845 or Crime Stoppers 344-7867.